the secret garden-第26节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


in'　things　an'　a　body　had　better　not　meddle。　　You　can　lose　a　friend　in　springtime　easier　than　any　other　season　if　you're　too　curious。〃

〃If　we　talk　about　him　I　can't　help　looking　at　him；〃　Mary　said　as　softly　as　possible。　　〃We　must　talk　of　something　else。　There　is　something　I　want　to　tell　you。〃

〃He'll　like　it　better　if　us　talks　o'　somethin'　else；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃What　is　it　tha's　got　to　tell　me？〃

〃Welldo　you　know　about　Colin？〃　she　whispered。

He　turned　his　head　to　look　at　her。

〃What　does　tha'　know　about　him？〃　he　asked。

〃I've　seen　him。　　I　have　been　to　talk　to　him　every　day　this　week。　　He　wants　me　to　come。　　He　says　I'm　making　him　forget　about　being　ill　and　dying；〃　answered　Mary。

Dickon　looked　actually　relieved　as　soon　as　the　surprise　died　away　from　his　round　face。

〃I　am　glad　o'　that；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I'm　right　down　glad。　It　makes　me　easier。　　I　knowed　I　must　say　nothin'　about　him　an'　I　don't　like　havin'　to　hide　things。〃

〃Don't　you　like　hiding　the　garden？〃　said　Mary。

〃I'll　never　tell　about　it；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　I　says　to　mother；　‘Mother；'　I　says；　‘I　got　a　secret　to　keep。　It's　not　a　bad　'un；　tha'　knows　that。　　It's　no　worse　than　hidin'　where　a　bird's　nest　is。　　Tha'　doesn't　mind　it；　does　tha'？'〃

Mary　always　wanted　to　hear　about　mother。

〃What　did　she　say？〃　she　asked；　not　at　all　afraid　to　hear。

Dickon　grinned　sweet…temperedly。

〃It　was　just　like　her；　what　she　said；〃　he　answered。　〃She　give　my　head　a　bit　of　a　rub　an'　laughed　an'　she　says；　'Eh；　lad；　tha'　can　have　all　th'　secrets　tha'　likes。　I've　knowed　thee　twelve　year'。'〃

〃How　did　you　know　about　Colin？〃　asked　Mary。

〃Everybody　as　knowed　about　Mester　Craven　knowed　there　was　a　little　lad　as　was　like　to　be　a　cripple；　an'　they　knowed　Mester　Craven　didn't　like　him　to　be　talked　about。　　Folks　is　sorry　for　Mester　Craven　because　Mrs。　Craven　was　such　a　pretty　young　lady　an'　they　was　so　fond　of　each　other。　　Mrs。　Medlock　stops　in　our　cottage　whenever　she　goes　to　Thwaite　an'　she　doesn't　mind　talkin'　to　mother　before　us　children；　because　she　knows　us　has　been　brought　up　to　be　trusty。　How　did　tha'　find　out　about　him？　Martha　was　in　fine　trouble　th'　last　time　she　came　home。　　She　said　tha'd　heard　him　frettin'　an'　tha'　was　askin'　questions　an'　she　didn't　know　what　to　say。〃

Mary　told　him　her　story　about　the　midnight　wuthering　of　the　wind　which　had　wakened　her　and　about　the　faint　far…off　sounds　of　the　complaining　voice　which　had　led　her　down　the　dark　corridors　with　her　candle　and　had　ended　with　her　opening　of　the　door　of　the　dimly　lighted　room　with　the　carven　four…posted　bed　in　the　corner。　When　she　described　the　small　ivory…white　face　and　the　strange　black…rimmed　eyes　Dickon　shook　his　head。

〃Them's　just　like　his　mother's　eyes；　only　hers　was　always　laughin'；　they　say；〃　he　said。　　〃They　say　as　Mr。　Craven　can't　bear　to　see　him　when　he's　awake　an'　it's　because　his　eyes　is　so　like　his　mother's　an'　yet　looks　so　different　in　his　miserable　bit　of　a　face。〃

〃Do　you　think　he　wants　to　die？〃　whispered　Mary。

〃No；　but　he　wishes　he'd　never　been　born。　　Mother　she　says　that's　th'　worst　thing　on　earth　for　a　child。　Them　as　is　not　wanted　scarce　ever　thrives。　　Mester　Craven　he'd　buy　anythin'　as　money　could　buy　for　th'　poor　lad　but　he'd　like　to　forget　as　he's　on　earth。　　For　one　thing；　he's　afraid　he'll　look　at　him　some　day　and　find　he's　growed　hunchback。〃

〃Colin's　so　afraid　of　it　himself　that　he　won't　sit　up；〃　said　Mary。　　〃He　says　he's　always　thinking　that　if　he　should　feel　a　lump　coming　he　should　go　crazy　and　scream　himself　to　death。〃

〃Eh！　he　oughtn't　to　lie　there　thinkin'　things　like　that；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃No　lad　could　get　well　as　thought　them　sort　o'　things。〃

The　fox　was　lying　on　the　grass　close　by　him；　looking　up　to　ask　for　a　pat　now　and　then；　and　Dickon　bent　down　and　rubbed　his　neck　softly　and　thought　a　few　minutes　in　silence。　Presently　he　lifted　his　head　and　looked　round　the　garden。

〃When　first　we　got　in　here；〃　he　said；　〃it　seemed　like　everything　was　gray。　　Look　round　now　and　tell　me　if　tha'　doesn't　see　a　difference。〃

Mary　looked　and　caught　her　breath　a　little。

〃Why！〃　she　cried；　〃the　gray　wall　is　changing。　It　is　as　if　a　green　mist　were　creeping　over　it。　It's　almost　like　a　green　gauze　veil。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃An'　it'll　be　greener　and　greener　till　th'　gray's　all　gone。　　Can　tha'　guess　what　I　was　thinkin'？〃

〃I　know　it　was　something　nice；〃　said　Mary　eagerly。　〃I　believe　it　was　something　about　Colin。〃

〃I　was　thinkin'　that　if　he　was　out　here　he　wouldn't　be　watchin'　for　lumps　to　grow　on　his　back；　he'd　be　watchin'　for　buds　to　break　on　th'　rose…bushes；　an'　he'd　likely　be　healthier；〃　explained　Dickon。　　〃I　was　wonderin'　if　us　could　ever　get　him　in　th'　humor　to　come　out　here　an'　lie　under　th'　trees　in　his　carriage。〃

〃I've　been　wondering　that　myself。　　I've　thought　of　it　almost　every　time　I've　talked　to　him；〃　said　Mary。　〃I've　wondered　if　he　could　keep　a　secret　and　I've　wondered　if　we　could　bring　him　here　without　any　one　seeing　us。　I　thought　perhaps　you　could　push　his　carriage。　　The　doctor　said　he　must　have　fresh　air　and　if　he　wants　us　to　take　him　out　no　one　dare　disobey　him。　　He　won't　go　out　for　other　people　and　perhaps　they　will　be　glad　if　he　will　go　out　with　us。　He　could　order　the　gardeners　to　keep　away　so　they　wouldn't　find　out。〃

Dickon　was　thinking　very　hard　as　he　scratched　Captain's　back。

〃It'd　be　good　for　him；　I'll　warrant；〃　he　said。　〃Us'd　not　be　thinkin'　he'd　better　never　been　born。　Us'd　be　just　two　children　watchin'　a　garden　grow；　an'　he'd　be　another。　　Two　lads　an'　a　little　lass　just　lookin'　on　at　th'　springtime。　　I　warrant　it'd　be　better　than　doctor's　stuff。〃

〃He's　been　lying　in　his　room　so　long　and　he's　always　been　so　afraid　of　his　back　that　it　has　made　him　queer；〃　said　Mary。　　〃He　knows　a　good　many　things　out　of　books　but　he　doesn't　know　anything　else。　　He　says　he　has　been　too　ill　to　notice　things　and　he　hates　going　out　of　doors　and　hates　gardens　and　gardeners。　　But　he　likes　to　hear　about　this　garden　because　it　is　a　secret。　　I　daren't　tell　him　much　but　he　said　he　wanted　to　see　it。〃

〃Us'll　have　him　out　here　sometime　for　sure；〃　said　Dickon。　〃I　could　push　his　carriage　well　enough。　　Has　tha'　noticed　how　th'　robin　an'　his　mate　has　been　workin'　while　we've　been　sittin'　here？　Look　at　him　perched　on　that　branch　wonderin'　where　it'd　be　best　to　put　that　twig　he's　got　in　his　beak。〃

He　made　one　of　his　low　whistling　calls　and　the　robin　turned　his　head　and　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　still　holding　his　twig。　　Dickon　spoke　to　him　as　Ben　Weatherstaff　did；　but　Dickon's　tone　was　one　of　friendly　advice。

〃Wheres'ever　tha'　puts　it；〃　he　said；　〃it'll　be　all　right。　　Tha'　knew　how　to　build　tha'　nest　before　tha'　came　out　o'　th'　egg。　　Get　on　with　thee；　lad。　　Tha'st　got　no　time　to　lose。〃

〃Oh；　I　do　like　to　hear　you　talk　to　him！〃　Mary　said；　laughing　delightedly。　　〃Ben　Weatherstaff　scolds　him　and　makes　fun　of　him；　and　he　hops　about　and　looks　as　if　he　understood　every　word；　and　I　know　he　likes　it。　Ben　Weatherstaff　says　he　is　so　conceited　he　would　rather　have　stones　thrown　at　him　than　not　be　noticed。〃

Dickon　laughed　too　and　went　on　talking。

〃Tha'　knows　us　won't　trouble　thee；〃　he　said　to　the　robin。　〃Us　is　near　bein'　wild　things　ourselves。　　Us　is　nest…buildin'　too；　bless　thee。　　Look　out　tha'　doesn't　tell　on　us。〃

And　though　the　robin　did　not　answer；　because　his　beak　was　occupied；　Mary　knew　that　when　he　flew　away　with　his　twig　to　his　own　corner　of　the　garden　the　darkness　of　his　dew…bright　eye　meant　that　he　would　not　tell　their　secret　for　the　world。



CHAPTER　XVI

〃I　WON'T！〃　SAID　MARY


They　found　a　great　deal　to　do　that　morning　and　Mary　was　late　in　returning　to　the　house　and　was　also　in　such　a　hurry　to　get　back　to　her　work　that　she　quite　forgot　Colin　until　the　last　moment。

〃Tell　Colin　that　I　can't　come　and　see　him　yet；〃　she　said　to　Martha。　　〃I'm　very　busy　in　the　garden。〃

Martha　looked　rather　frightened。

〃Eh！　Miss　Mary；〃　she　said；　〃it　may　put　him　all　out　of　humor　when　I　tell　him　that。〃

But　Mary　was　not　as　afraid　of　him　as　other　people　were　and　she　was　not　a　self…sacrificing　person。

〃I　can't　stay；〃　she　answered。　　〃Dickon's　waiting　for　me；〃　and　she　ran　away。

The　afternoon　was　even　lovelier　and　busier　than　the　morning　had　been。　　Already　nearly　all　the　weeds　were　cleared　out　of　the　garden　and　most　of　the　roses　and　trees　had　been　pruned　or　dug　about。　　Dickon　had　brought　a　spade　of　his　own　and　he　had　taught　Mary　to　use　all　her　tools；　so　that　by　this　time　it　was　plain　that　though　the　lovely　wild　place　was　not　likely　to　become　a　〃gardener's　garden〃　it　would　be　a　wilderness　of　growing　things　before　the　springtime　was　over。

〃There'll　be　apple　blossoms　an'　cherry　blossoms　overhead；〃　Dickon　said；　working　away　with　all　his　might。　〃An'　there'll　be　peach　an'　plum　trees　in　bloom　against　th'　walls；　an'　th'　grass'll　be　a　carpet　o'　flowers。〃

The　little　fox　and　the　rook　were　as　happy　and　busy　as　they　were；　and　the　robin　and　his　mate　flew　backward　and　forward　like　tiny　streaks　of　lightning。　Sometimes　the　rook　flapped　his　black　wings　and　soared　away　over　the　tree…tops　in　the　park。　　Each　time　he　came　back　and　perched　near　Dickon　and　cawed　several　times　as　if　he　were　relating　his　adventures；　and　Dickon　talked　to　him　just　as　he　had　talked　to　the　robin。　　Onc